Vehicle

2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

Review

Have owned this car for two months now, just over 2,000 miles on it. Has the winter/alloy wheel/moonroof package. Test-drove the Impreza v. Ford Focus and Fiesta and Hyundai Elantra, and Impreza was favorite by far. Handles well overall, was most solid and reassuring, smoothest transmission (CVT v. others' automatics is no contest), roomy comfortable interior. Edmunds doesn't like the styling, but I l do, and prefer it to the Focus (which I also own). Engine is plenty powerful and mpg is fine; on 270-mile trip from Denver to Avon, CO, over two mountain passes of at least 10,600 feet and at 70 mph most of the way, averaged 34.5 mpg. Seats are comfortable, visibility is top of class.

Worst Features

Tweak the CVT so that it accelerates more completely from a stop; it shifts to a high gear, and stops accelerating, unless you keep increasing the gas. And teach it about engine braking on downhills (it applies too much braking at present). Also, if you're going to offer us paddle shifters, give them the authority to rev to the red line. Move the info screen control switch to the steering column, as on the Focus and other cars, and make fog lights standard on the Premium trim level.